Waste valve mechanism



Nov. 3, 1959 D. D. KINSEY ET AL WASTE VALVE MECHANISM Filed 001;. 9, 1956 5M u k-P ai m hx i n 0 I} I a Q \0 0 lira. 5 vvM/ I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII r Z United States Patent 2,910,704 WASTE VALVE MECHANISM Douglas D. Kinsey, Orlando, Fla., and August E. Johnson,

Chicago, and Harold W. Ashby, Elmhurst, Ill., assignors to Crane Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinols Application October 9, 1956, Serial No. 614,869

2 Claims. (Cl. 4199) This invention relates generally to an actuating mechanism for a waste valve such as those commonly employed in a fluid discharge with bathtubs, lavatories, and similar domestic plumbing appliances.

More particularly, it is concerned with an operating mechanism which is sturdy and economical to manufacture and which may be readily installed or removed from angularly related overflow and outlet discharge pipes of the said devices.

Another important object is to provide for a plumbing waste operating mechanism or the like which can be readily adjusted and easily removed for inspection and cleaning through the waste outlet and overflow.

Another object is to provide for a structure in which a rocker effect in a lever mechanism is simply and effectively accomplished at the point of contact of such rocker arm with the lower interior surface of the horizontal waste tube A further object is to provide for an actuating lever arm in a device of the character above referred to in which the contact surface is distributed over a substantially large area thereby to reduce the usual wear occurring during the course of said waste valve operation.

Another object is to provide for a form of construction inwhich a single or integral type of rocker lever may be used, thus avoiding the necessity for employing a plurality of joints as heretofore used and avoiding also the attendant accurate machining and assembly of the mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding with a description of the device in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view through one end of a bathtub together with fittings which consiitute the overflow and waste outlets therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary exterior View in plan of an end portion of the novel rocker lever arm forming this invention.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to Fig. l, the numeral 1 is a general designation applied to a bathtub having the usual enameled or finished surface indicated at 2. One end of the bathtub is provided with a vertically disposed standpipe or overflow tube as at 3, which tube is connected at its upper end to the tub in the usual fluid sealing manner, as by means of an overflow L 4 having a flange which bears against the outer face of the tub wall shown. Connected to the tube 3, the L 4 is mounted in fluid seal relation to the tub by means of the gasket 6. The apertured plate 5 mounted on the tub surface 2 serves as a journalling means for an actuating handle 7 connected to a rotatable stem 8 journally mounted as at 9 within the plate 5, the stem 8 at its inner end having a crank arm 11 nonrotatably mounted thereon as at 12. The said crank arm ICE is apertured as at 13 to receive the head 14 of the depending arm 16 in abutting relation with the curved portion 15 of the said arm. a

At its lower end portion, the arm 16 is threaded as at 17 and having depending therefrom a weighted end member 18, which latter member is held in place on the said arm by means of the respective upper and lower locknuts 19 and 21.

It will be noted that the valve actuating mechanism hereinabove described is thus suitably contained within the vertical standpipe or overflow tube 3 While at the same time being conveniently removable therefrom. l At the lower end of the standpipe 3, a T fitting 22 is attached in fluid sealing relation to the end portion 23 ofthe overflow tube 3 by means of the usual union ring 24 and the compressed fluid sealing packing 25. A similar type of connection is made at the side outlet of the said T fitting with the horizontally disposed waste outlet tubing 26. At the lower end of the T fitting and on its vertical axis, the usual discharge piping 27 is employed, discharging into a trap (not shown) or similar portion of the sewerage system and connected as at threads 28 to the T fitting 22.

The horizontally extending waste discharge tubing 26 at its opposite end portion is provided with a hollow Waste fitting 29, the latter member being held in fluid sealing relation to the waste outlet opening 31 of the bathtub 1 by means of the threaded seat 32 having the depending threaded shank 33 engaging the upper threaded opening of the hollow waste fitting 2 9 as indicated. Compressed between the Waste fitting and the lower flange portion of the tub is a suitable gasket 34. i

What is termed a pop-up valve is designated at 35 and is predeterminately engageable with and reciprocally movable relative to the annular recessed seat portion 36 by actuating means hereinafter described in greater detail.

Preferably, the pop-up valve for purpose of providing improved guiding is supplied with a plurality of radially extending wings 37 relatively snugly received and movable axially within the seat bore 38. A threaded pin 39 is adjustably mounted for suitable axial positioning within the pop-up valve member 35 as indicated. At its lowermost end portion the said pin is flattened on each side thereof as at 41 and apertured to receive a transversely extending pin 42 engaged by a rocker lever or arm generally designated 43. It will be noted, as shown more clearly in the fragmentary plan view of Fig. 3, that the rocker arm is bifurcated as at 44 and 45 with respective apertures therethrough as at 46 and 47 respectively to receive the said transverse pin 42.

It will be noted also, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1, that the curved lever arm 43 pivotally attached at one end to the pin 42 is supported within and extends for a substantial distance within the horizontally disposed waste piping 26. The rocker lever arm 43 at its opposite end limit is provided with a flattened plain surface or spatulalike portion 48 for functional purposes hereinafter explained.

As more clearly shown in the transverse sectional view of Fig. 2, the curved lever arm 43 is preferably made for a substantial part of its length with a relatively sharp radius when viewed in cross section, as shown at 49, so that the oppositely disposed longitudinal edge portions at 51 and 52 are not in contact with the inner wall surface 53 of the waste outlet tubing 26, thereby making the rocking contact at 54 and thus minimizing wear between the surface 53 of the tubing and the rocker surface 54 of the lever. At the same time, it will be clear that such construction stilfens the lever to permit little or no bending or other distortion. It will also be clear that the pivoting or rockingmovement of the curved lever or arm 43 Patented Nov. 3, 1959 is distributed over a relatively large area insofar as the contact along the surface at 54 is concerned and thereby to reduce wear. In this connection, it should be understood that in previous types of waste mechanisms, the pivoting of such lever or arm has usually been concentrated at a single point within the waste tubing and thereby localized the wear surfaces of tube and lever. Frequently, the prior structures provided objectionable snagging areas for hair, lint and other foreign matter normally tending to collect in and around the waste arm lever and links. In considering the specific form of lever arm disclosed and described, it will of course be understood that while as indicated the arm is made preferably from a curved cross sectional strip, it can also be made from tubing which is suitably flattened to provide strength and rigidity as Well as the desirable Wide range of distributionvof the contacting area for effecting the pivoting op eration of the arm.

In actual. operation, it will now become apparent that as the handle 7 within the tub is rotated in the desired direction, thestem 8 and crank arm 11 is likewise rotated and therefore the depending rod 16 will be moved axially downward thereby drawing the lowermost end surface of the weighted end 18 in abutting contact against the spatula-like fiat surface 48 of the lever arm 43. This contact causes the member 43 to rock along its rounded contact surface 54 while supported upon the lowermost end surface 53 of the tubing 26. As previously referred to it will also be apparent that because the lever arm radius in cross-section as at 49 is relatively shorter than that of the radius forming the arc of the surface 53 of tubing 26 the edges 51 and 52 are centered relative to the tubing and will not bind or scratch during the course of rocking the arm 43 along the inner surface 53 of the said tubing.

Here there is also accomplished the elimination of any multiple linkages in forming the lever arm, and yet it will be apparent that a firm and positive leverage application is accomplished. Because of the relatively reduced thickness of the lever arm employed in 43 and because of the curved shape of the said arm, the construction provides great convenience in removability and also for effecting the installation within the outlet tubing when being inserted through the opening 35. Such desirable clearances can easily be provided so as to avoid binding, scratching and otherwise marring the interior of the tubing 26.

It will be clear that because of the relative weight of the waste outlet valve 35 when the rod 16 is moved upwardly to release the contact of member 18 against the surface 48, the valve 35 will drop back to its seat 36 as illustrated. Such desirable action is another reason for reducing prior surface frictional contact between the waste arm and the horizontally disposed waste out let tubing. It will also be clear that in the instant invention the waste arm is easily guided while being rocked within the tubing, because it normally tends to center along the lowermost portion of the curved surface 53 when in its operating position and forming a line bearing or point contact with the tubing interior. There is thus also the advantage of reducing to a minimum any possible restriction to fluid flow through the waste tubing 26.

It is of course apparent that it is possible to modify the construction herein shown and to do so within considerable limits without departing from the underlying principles of this invention, the scope of which is indicated by the claims below.

We claim:

1. In a receptacle having an overflow outlet and a waste outlet, means connecting the said outlets with a source of waste disposal, a valve reciprocally movable relative to the waste outlet, an operating member adjacent the overflow outlet and a linkage system comprising two predeterminately separable units, one being connected with the valve and the other being connected with the operating member, one of the units comprising a curved waste arm of substantially arcuate cross section of thin plate configuration connected at one end to the valve and pr0- vided at the other end limit with a flattened surface portion normally horizontally disposed and predeterminately contacting that linkage unit connected with the said operating member, the said waste arm being continuously curved for substantially its entire length except for said flattened end surface portion and being rockable on a line bearing formed by the arcuate cross section of the arm along a substantial longitudinal portion of an inner lowermost curved surface of the waste outlet whereby to enable the valve to be reciprocally movable by the operating member upon suitable actuation of the latter member.

2. In a receptacle having an overflow outlet and a waste outlet, means connecting the said outlets with a source of waste disposal, a valve mounted within the waste outlet, an operating member within the overflow outlet and a linkage system cooperating therewith comprising two units, one being connected with the valve and the other connected with the operating member, the said linkage unit connected with the operating member predeterminately making abutting contact with the valve unit, the valve unit including a longitudinally curved waste arm having an arcuate cross-section of plate-like form and a flattened end integral portion limiting the curved portion of said arm for effecting said abutting contact predeterminately with a lower end of the linkage unit connected with said operating member, the latter member being adjustably connected to the valve and being rockable predeterminately along a lower longitudinal surface in the waste outlet whereupon. effecting said rocking movement of the said arm, the valve is reciprocally moved, the arcuate cross section of said arm extendingwithin the waste outlet for a distance longitudinally at least equal to that length of the arm portion making rocking contact with said lower longitudinal surface in the waste outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,298 Holycross Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,957 Italy Dec. 23, 1949 

